Pehlamak, the Hurani New Year
The Hurani new year (Pehlamak) is marked by the heliacal rising of the star Tepela. The start of a new year is a period of rebirth and renewal in Hurani culture, and it also carries a more practical significance as it is tied to the beginning of the agricultural cycle. Thus, the Hurani eagerly look to the annual rising of Tepela to mark the arrival of the new year.
Observance
The people of Huran begin their preparation for the new year the night before. All Hurani families from all walks of life follow the same routine on new year's eve- each member must wash their entire body before going to sleep at night so that they may greet the new year at their best. Candles are lit throughout the entire night until the first break of dawn on the new year, to keep the darkness at bay and welcome the year with light and hope.
Once the new year begins, the Hurani welcome it with a day-long festival. Spring cakes are baked and eaten in large amounts (on an unrelated note, most Hurani suddenly suffer from digestive problems the day after the new year festival), the temples fill with devotees eager to begin their year by thanking God for their blessings, and gifts are exchanged by both close friends and bitterest enemies, particularly gifts of food. In fact, most Hurani gift-giving during festivals involves the exchange of sweets. (As with most things Hurani, this often turns from a friendly exchange to a fierce competition to determine who can gift the best sweets. There is rarely ever a clear winner, but that hasn't stopped any Hurani families from engaging in this intensely competitive tradition.)
New Year's Day at the Palace
The aristocracy of Huran have their own traditions for the new year. While new year's eve is a time for family amongst all Hurani, regardless of their station, the celebrations on Pehlamak differ slightly for the nobles. Spring cakes are still consumed at alarming rates, and gifts are still exchanged competitively, but Huran's upper class must also pay their respects to the Imperial family on new year's day. The nobles travel to the Palace with their entire families and, one by one, each member presents their extravagant gifts to the Imperial family as tribute. On the bright side, to make up for the fact that they must practically empty their coffers annually, the nobles then get to enjoy a rather lavish feast, predictably followed by a great deal of good-natured competition, because the Hurani really can't help themselves.
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